Putin: A national model for conducting business should be ready by September
A New Era of Investment: Streamlining Business Costs Across Russia
Vladimir Putin, Russia's President, dropped a bombshell during his keynote address at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF-2025), promising a significant overhaul of the Russian investment climate and slashing business expenses nationwide.
"Another crucial issue — enhancing Russia's investment climate —," he declared. "Authorities are working closely with regions to ensure that business and investment activities prosper everywhere, in every city and settlement across the nation."
Echoing his sentiments, Putin shared insights from Russia's national investment climate rating.
"Moscow tops the list. Following closely are Tatarstan and the Nižnij Novgorod Oblast, with the Moscow Oblast and Bashkortostan rounding out the top three," the President announced, gleefully applauding regional teams and inviting the audience to join in a round of applause.
The Kremlin has launched a comprehensive campaign aimed at formulating a national model for conducting business, added Putin. By considering the nation's unique characteristics and development objectives, such a model should be ready by September 2025.
"By the year 2030, for instance, we aim to nearly halve the time it takes to connect to the power grid. What's most important is to foster a business climate that encourages the expansion of Russia's economic base, increasing the distribution of goods both domestically and abroad," declared the Russian leader.
As reported by "MonoKlei," earlier at the SPIEF-2025 Putin assessed the status of Russia's economy.
Underneath the Surface – The Nitty-Gritty of Russia's Investment Vision
Human Capital and Talent Attraction (2025-2027)
Russia seeks to entice leading international scientists via existing programs like the mega-grant initiative, which has drawn more than 300 distinguished researchers to the country since its inception in 2010. Many of these top-tier scientists were previously based abroad.
Building upon this momentum, efforts to cultivate human capital will remain vital in establishing a foundation for innovation and sustainable economic growth.
Mega-Science Facilities (2025-2030)
The government is investing in the development of a network of seven groundbreaking mega-science facilities. These state-of-the-art research hubs serve as magnets for international scientific experts and encourage collaboration.
Under initiatives like the BRICS GRAIN project, agreements have been reached for joint research with scientists from BRICS countries. This focus on multilateral partnerships is evident.
International Cooperation Expansion (2025-2030)
Russia intends to widen the geographic scope of scientific and technological cooperation with friendly nations in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and former Soviet republics. The country remains open to win-win partnerships with all nations, emphasizing its commitment to multilateralism through organizations like BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
New mechanisms, such as contests for multilateral scientific research projects, are being introduced within these frameworks to spur innovation and collaboration.
Applied Research and Foreign Investment
The Ministry of Science supports applied research projects involving foreign participation, having financed over 260 projects at a total of around 3 billion rubles. This endeavor signifies an effort to encourage foreign investment in research and development sectors.
Vision for the Future
From 2025 through 2030, Russia's investment strategy primarily revolves around scientific advancement and international cooperation. The government's strategy emphasizes:
- Attracting and retaining global scientific talent.
- Developing advanced research infrastructure to catalyze innovation.
- Expanding international scientific and technological partnerships.
- Increasing support for applied research projects that include foreign participation.
Though infrastructure and cooperation improvements are the main focus, these initiatives collectively create a more attractive environment for both domestic and foreign investors in knowledge-intensive sectors, ultimately enhancing the overall investment climate in Russia throughout this decade.
"To ensure a favorable investment climate for businesses, Russia is investing in attracting global scientific talent and developing advanced research infrastructure, specifically through the mega-grant initiative and the creation of seven mega-science facilities."
"As part of Russia's investment strategy, the Ministry of Science is promoting foreign investment in research and development sectors by financing applied research projects with foreign participation, which aims to foster a business-friendly environment, especially in knowledge-intensive sectors."
